Baby joy for snow monkeys at Highland Wildlife Park

The resident snow monkey troop at the Highland Wildlife Park recently welcomed new arrivals when a trio of babies were born.

The three latest additions belong to mums Mang, Djangal and Angara.

Still only three weeks old, the babies are staying close to their mums and it will be a while yet before they venture further on their own.

One of the snow monkey babies, just three weeks old, enjoys its surroundings. Picture: Jon Paul-Orsi

All three infants were born between the 21st and the 25th of April.

There are now 21 snow monkeys – properly known as Japanese macaques – living at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Angara is the dominant female of the group, and also a first time mum, making her new arrival a very important addition to their social group.

One of the proud mums with her baby. Picture: John Paul-Orsi

It will be a while yet before keepers are able to tell what sex the babies are, so they won’t be named until then, but keepers are already noticing their different characters starting to come through, with one in particular being a little more boisterous than the others.

Japanese macaques are found throughout Japan, living in large troupes in woodland and sub-tropical forests.

The sex of the babies will not be known for some time but their characters are already emerging. Picture: John Paul-Orsi

Instantly recognisable due to their bright red faces and white fur, these primates are fully adapted to seasonal climate changes as temperatures in Japan can plummet to as low as -15°C in the winter, making their Scottish Highland home ideal.